Corso Won't Let Cobwebs Gather On Renegades

October 10, 1985|By Brian Schmitz of The Sentinel Staff

''Orlando Renegades.''

The voice on the phone at the Renegades' office does not belong to Carol Herbster, the team's secretary. It is Lee Corso's. Herbster was laid off a few weeks after the United States Football League season ended, leaving the head coach to answer calls.

Orlando closed out its first USFL season in June and will not return until next fall, but the beat goes on for Corso. He might not have any players or assistant coaches to lead, yet he still is a football coach.

Even though the USFL's pulse is weak, Corso is confident the troubled league will turn up for a fourth season next fall.

The Renegades are in limbo until then, but they look every bit like a franchise that plans to reopen the doors. All they can do now is wait and wonder, assuming the show will go on.

Corso says it feels strange to watch the merry-go-round of NFL and college games and not be able to get on the ride. ''I feel like a general and there's a war going on, but I can't get in it,'' he said.

His first season as a pro coach was frustrating. The Renegades, working on a blue-light special budget, finished 5-13 in the USFL's Eastern Conference. Orlando's offense and the defense were, statistically, the worst in the league. So there are plenty of repairs to be made during this down time.

Don Dizney, the Renegades' managing general partner, is just now taking ''a deep breath'' after his effort to acquire the Tampa Bay Bandits fell through. Dizney wanted to merge the Bandits and the Renegades but declared the deal ''dead'' when Bandits star tailback Gary Anderson joined the San Diego Chargers.

Despite their first-year record, the Renegades finished as one of the healthier franchises in the USFL, losing ''only'' $3 million. Dizney said he is sure the league will be back, although more streamlined with ''eight or 10 teams.''

For now, Dizney's attention returns to his growing hospital business, United Medical Corporation.

''But I can't wait to start winning some more games,'' he said. ''There is not a losing bone in my body. That 5-13 will always be on my resume. We want to improve, and we will''

Much of that responsibility belongs to General Manager Bugsy Engelberg. Engelberg said he has added several players who can help the Renegades, such as former Tampa Bay Bandits quarterback John Reaves.

He constantly scours the NFL waiver wires and consults his vast network of coaching contacts daily while running his Orlando-based collection service.

The Renegades protected 35 players on their roster. Most of them are scattered around the country, some working regular jobs, others just working out and living off their salaries.

About a dozen Renegades are staying in town, occasionally representing the team at charity and community functions.

Wide receiver Joey Walters is working in a public-relations capacity for Burger King in Orlando. Recently he found out how they made the burgers. Punter Greg Cater works in a sporting goods store. Running back Rickey Claitt is a used-car salesman.

Although the Renegades again will spend their money modestly, Engelberg said the defection of USFL stars to the NFL coupled with the NFL's roster cutdown will funnel more quality players to the USFL.

''We will be restocking soon,'' he said. ''We can't wait for the season to start. We're like an expectant father wanting the baby to get here quick.''

Corso is all but pacing the floors. One would think his day consists of picking up his mail and then seeking 18 holes of rehabilitation after a 5-13 season. No way. His tireless drive and high-voltage personality are at work even with the team in mothballs.

Unlike Dizney and Engelberg, Corso has just one job -- football. He gets to the office at 8:45 a.m., reads the paper and answers the phone. Then for two hours it is ''football time.'' He sits at his desk and draws up dozens of plays for a season 11 months away.

Corso has designed a new defense, calling it ''revolutionary.'' His doodlings on the legal pad look more like ancient scrolls. He can hardly wait to install his ''Move Offense,'' which Renegades fans hope moves the ball better than the last one did.

Corso says he has continued his education in the off-season. He attended the Miami Dolphins' training camp to sit at the knee of Don Shula. ''Half of knowledge is knowing where to find it,'' he said.

Corso shows a visitor another stack of notes. Each Sunday and Monday night, he takes a home-study course in front of the TV, observing NFL games and noting formations, situations and coaching styles.

Each day around noon Corso heads to a weight room at Orlando Stadium to pump some iron. ''Just getting in shape for the 1986 season,'' he says, straining under the bench press. He then jogs around the football field, inventing new plays and formations, such as the 4-5-2 defense.

His afternoons are reserved for making speeches and meeting ''civic, political and religious leaders.'' He has spread the Renegade word from the State Leadership Conference in Tallahassee to the Central Florida Traffic Club.

At night, he reads voraciously. He is deep into ''DeLorean.'' Life stories of Lee Iacocca and Chuck Yeager inspired him.

Corso also is reading a business report. The subject: What executives of a steel plant did when the plant temporarily shut down.

''The vice president checked his inventory and the competition,'' Corso said. ''I'm doing the same. Checking my inventory -- the players -- and my competition -- the other teams.

''Our steel plant has closed down, but we plan to produce a better product when we open the doors again.''